Meridian High School valedictorian Timia Graham challenged her fellow graduates Friday to never settle for the comfortable, but to continue to learn new things, persevere through tough times and always strive to achieve their dreams.
“Seniors, don’t settle or get comfortable. Learn that you have to be comfortable with the uncomfortable. Step outside the box and continue to want to learn something new. Find things or jobs in life that you will want to do and you will love to do. Don’t waste your time doing something you don’t love doing,” Graham told her fellow Meridian High graduates during morning commencement at Ray Stadium.
The last of the public schools in Lauderdale County to hold graduation, Meridian High recognized 268 seniors and presented them with their high school diploma during the ceremony held before a crowd of parents, family, friends and well wishers. Joining Graham on stage were class salutatorian Kyia Jasper and the remaining top 10 highest honor graduates, along with school and district administrators.
Graham told her classmates that life will bring both good times and bad times, where they may experience pain, hurt and adversity.
“It’s all about how you respond,” she said.
“Don’t ever compare yourself, your life and your hurt to no one else. Don’t look for validation or happiness in other people, only yourself,” she added. “Don’t ever change who you are for anyone unless you are changing to better yourself. Never, and I mean never, allow anyone to devalue your self worth.”
In her valedictorian speech, Graham related great personal adversity she has overcome in her young life.
“Everybody has been through so much and has made it this far even though we could have given up,” she said. “For me, I’ve been through so much. I lost my older sister when I was 11 and she was 14. This made me realize that life is short and from that time I became mentally mature quickly.”
Graham said her sister, Aaliyah, was everything she could ask for in a big sister.
“She taught me a lot of things, and people say I’m so smart, but she was the blueprint,” Graham said. “So when people call me smart or I try hard, I give her all the credit because she was one of my biggest motivations.”
Then last year, her father, Timothy Graham, died unexpectedly, a year after her grandmother passed away.
“My father was my other motivation. He was the most outstanding man of God I knew, the sweetest person and the sweetest soul and the greatest father to me,” she said.
Graham credited her mother, Ververly Graham, for her unconditional love and support in continuing to motivate her to achieve her goals.
“Going into my senior year, I knew I had to push through because I knew I had a younger sister, MaHaly, that looks up to me. I had to choose between giving up on myself or continuing to fight for who I wanted to be,” she said. “If I had to describe it in one word, I would say perseverance.”
Striving to become valedictorian took a lot of hard work and effort, she said.
“It took sacrifices; not going out just to get work done. Getting up at 4:30 in the morning to go to work, then to school and basketball or softball practice my entire senior year,” Graham said. “Not getting sleep and up doing work for college classes these past three years. Giving up my summers to still take classes. Taking time to become president of the winning MHS Beta Club. Pushing myself to not to settle for less when it came to my work.”
Graham told her fellow graduates they can also achieve success and encouraged them not to become satisfied with their lives but to continue to reach toward their dreams.
Principal Angela McQuarley, before the presentation of the diplomas, lauded the graduates for their achievements throughout high school and the obstacles many overcame to get to this moment.
“You have demonstrated remarkable strength in overcoming these hurdles and emerging stronger than ever,” she said. “Your ability to adapt, to learn from failures and to be persistent in the pursuit of your goals is to be commended.
“As you embark on the next chapter of your lives, I want to remind you that the world is filled with endless possibilities,” McQuarley said. “We have prepared you with three distinct paths awaiting you upon completion of graduation: college, workforce and military. Each of these opportunities presents its own set of opportunities. It is so important that you ensure that your path aligns with your passion, your dreams and aspirations.”